Intro
Getting your hands on all Research abilities not only requires points, but you have to collect every piece of Watch Dogs 2 Key Data across the city to gain access to them first.
These Key Data locations have you enter restricted zones across the map to retrieve Key Data in specific ways, some by hacking - either in person or drone - or simply collecting them, once you have evaded or neutralised armed resistance along the way.
We recommend the same routine on each one; locating their position (which we list below) and using NetHack to add them to your map and heads-up display. Then as you would with any other restricted area, use Cameras or a drone to scout enemy locations. As well as upgrading some of your research to make taking on foes easier, the following are required if you want to obtain them all:
- Quadcopter
- Vehicle Direction Hack
- Environmental RC
- Optional - Enhanced Spring, other Jumper upgrades
As such, we'd recommend playing some of the main Watch Dogs 2 walkthrough until you have a handful of research nodes, unlocking the above essentials and anything you feel would make things easier, then ticking off all the Key Data locations from one area of the city to the next. As such, we've organised the list by city region, then Key Data location within there in alphabetical order. As a bonus, once you get them all, you also pick up the Research Trophy/Achievement.
Coit Tower: Strong Grip
Research unlocked: Strong Grip (Marksmanship)
Requirements: None
A block south of Coit Tower, head into the alleyway between two apartment complexes. Using the RC Jumper to avoid the guards, or after confronting them directly, collect the Key Data pack from under the awning on the last deck down the alley.
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Embarcadero Center: Engine Override
Research unlocked: Engine Overdrive (Vehicle Hacking)
Requirements: None
This Key Data is part of the CyberDriver mission, though it can be accessed earlier. Head into the underground garage beneath Embarcadero Center.
Inside the small CtOS garage are three guards - eliminate or distract them then pick up the Data from next to the workbench.
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Chinatown: Massive Vehicle Hack
Research unlocked: Massive Vehicle Hack (Vehicle Hacking)
Requirements: Quadcopter
Make your way down the alley between the buildings in the north-west corner of Chinatown (one block N of the Tenderloin) - you'll find a ladder next to a yellow garage door.
Climb onto the rooftop and unlock the ctOS panel. Using your QuadCopter, fly into the previously locked air vent and hack the Key Data point inside.
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Alcatraz: Speed Boost
Research unlocked: Speed Boost (Remote CTRL)
Requirements: None
This Key Data is inside the main Cell Block of the infamous prison-turned-national park. Head in through the door on the eastern side of the central building.
Use the air vent inside the cell on level 3 to reach and hack the data point inside the walls.
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Nudle Park: Keen Eye
Research unlocked: Keen Eye (Marksmanship)
Requirements: Environmental RC
In the SW corner of Nudle park you'll find several shipping containers and a few guards. Deal with the guards however you like, the take control of the forklift sitting nearby.
Use the forklift to move the palletes out of the way of the trailer near the rear wall of the park, then collect the Data pack from inside.
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Ferry Building: Remote Gadgets
Research unlocked: Remote Gadgets (Marksmanship)
Requirements: Quadcopter
Use the QuadCopter drone to hack and retrieve the Key Data from the top of the Ferry Building.
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Lombard ST: Tweaked Blast
Research unlocked: Tweaked Blast (Tinkering)
Requirements: Quadcopter
Using your QuadCopter, fly up to the roof of the building next to the one under construction and hack the Key Data point under the rooftop deck.
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SF Moma: Chopper Retreat Exploit
Research unlocked: Chopper Retreat Exploit (Vehicle Hacking)
Requirements: Vehicle Direction Hack.
In the alley behind the SF MoMA are several security guards. Take them out if you like - though you really only need to eliminate the one patrolling the south-east entrance to the alley.
Use a vehicle hack to back the van out of the storage container in the corner, then climb up into the trailer. The Data is behind the rear door.
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Sutro Tower: Export RC Engineering
Research unlocked: Export RC Engineering (Remote CTRL)
Requirements: Jumper
This data terminal can be found in a shed around back of the Sutro Tower complex. From the entryway, use your RC Jumper to navigate along the left side of the building until you spot a small shed at the base of a short set of stairs.
Pilot the Jumper around the right-hand wall and through a hole at the base, then pick up the data pack. Fort Point: Botnet Savings City Hacking
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Fort Point: Botnet Savings City Hacking
Research unlocked: Botnet Savings: Personal Devices (Social Engineering)
Requirements: None
On the west wall of the Ft. Point building, under the SF foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, hack the ctOS junction box outside the small shed.
Using your QuadCopter drone, navigate the relay switchboard until you successfully unlock the junction box. The data is inside the shed.
Video : Not available right now.
Cliff House: Target Weakness
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Research unlocked: Target Weakness (Marksmanship)
Requirements: RC Jumper
The rear yard of the Cliff House is guarded by Sons of Ragnarok (why they'd take such interest in an oyster bar is beyond us, but who knows). To avoid unecessary confrontation, drive a box van or truck up to the front of the restaurant and park it next to the lowest section of roof.
Climb up onto the roof of the Cliff House and use your RC Jumper to drop down and collect the Key Data to avoid being attacked by bikers.
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New Dawn Facility: Security System Shutdown
Research unlocked: Security System Shutdown (Social Engineering)
Requirements: None
This piece of Key Data is in the gazeebo near the cliff's edge at the rear of the New Dawn facility Marcus infiltrates in the story mission False Proftis.
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Yerba Buena Island: Botnet Savings Vehicle Hack
Research unlocked: Botnet Savings: Vehicle Hacks (Vehicle Hacking)
Requirements: None
There are a fair amount of guards here at the top of the hill on YB Island. Once you've eliminated them, you can find this Key Data pack next to a jeep parked near the north wall of the complex.
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Prescott: Fast Trigger Finger
Research unlocked: Fast Trigger Finger (Marksmanship)
Requirements: None
This data is to the north of Downtown Oakland, in a small yard controlled by gang members.
You can either eliminate all the gang members or simply run into the yard - the Data point is next to a small wall in the center of the yard.
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Elmhearst: Gang War
Research unlocked: Gang War (Social Engineering)
Requirements: None
This data can be found under a small canopy in a large yard occupied by the Sons of Ragnarok to the east of Jack London Square.
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Jack London Square: Massive System Crash
Research unlocked: Gang War (Social Engineering)
Requirements: None
Facing the large building behind the italian restaurant from the street (instead of the waterfront), head into the alley next to the eatery and climb the stairs.
You'll encounter a decently-sized security staff - eliminate or avoid them however you choose, then retrieve the Data from inside the ctOS operations room in the southern corner of the roof.
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Palo Alto: Enhanced Spring
Research unlocked: Enhanced Spring (Remote CTRL)
Requirements: Quadcopter, Jumper
Make your way around to the rear side of Palo Alto City Hall. You'll see a small storage shed with construction supplies in front of it.
Using a forklift, move the boxes out from the rear of City Hall or use the RC Jumper to climb over them and unlock the ctOS console inside the small shed. Follow the signal to the top of the building with your QuadCopter and hack the Data Point.
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Stanford University: Stun Amp Up
Research unlocked: Stun Amp Up (Marksmanship)
Requirements: Quadcopter, Jumper
This Key Data parcel is inside the large tower at the center of the Stanford U campus. Climb up onto the tower on the flower boxes (on the front side of the base), then follow this roof around to the back of the tower.
Open the ventilation duct here and use your RC Jumper to get inside and hack the ctOS junction box.
In order to re-route the data in the appropriate direction, you'll need to move the two vans parked behind the tower. Do so manually or with vehicle hacks, then complete the circuit on the rest of the tower. Once you've finished, the door to the room the data is in (at the front of the tower) will be unlocked.
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Swan Levitt Observatory: Botnet Savings Personal Devices
Research unlocked: Botnet Savings: Personal Devices (Social Engineering)
Requirements: None
Make your way up to the observatory, then hack open the gates and sneak inside. Eliminate or avoid the guards, and climb the ladder on the back of the structure supporting the satellite dish.
On the north end of this platform you'll find the Data pack.
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Galelai: Explosive Optimization
Research unlocked: Explosive Optimization (Tinkering)
Requirements: None
Approach the Galelai facility from the south-west and use your QuadCopter to mark all of the guards in the restricted-access area. Use your RC Jumper to climb onto the shipping container, then jump the fence and unlock the ctOS box.
After dealing with the guards inside, climb the stairs and the ladder to the top of the operations building to deactivate the ctOS lock on the radio tower. You'll find the Data pack at the top of the tower - hack it to retrieve the Key.
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Crystal Spring Dam: Electro Shock Optimization
Research unlocked: Electro Shock Optimization (Tinkering)
Requirements: Environmental RC
Once you reach the dam, you'll need to gain access to a maintenance garage in the north-west corner of the construction yard. The best way to do this while avoiding the guards is to use the large construction crane.
Lower the crane's basket (being careful not to dislodge the propane tank inside) so that Marcus can board it, then lift it up and rotate it so it's over the garage.
Lower the cage to the roof of the garage, then disembark. Continue swinging the crane around until the cargo platform is next to the two plywood sheets on the roof. Detonate the gas tank to destroy the boards, then drop inside with the Jumper to claim the Data.
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Kirby Cove: Steady Hands
Research unlocked: Steady Hands (Marksmanship)
Requirements: Jumper
Make your way down to the old fort and up the steps onto the main level. There are several Sons of Ragnarok and their attack dogs inside.
After eliminating the guards, retrieve the data pack from behind the crates inside the old fort.
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Vista Point: Expert Tinkering
Research unlocked: Expert Tinkering (Tinkering)
Requirements: None
Underneath the start of the Golden Gate bridge, near the vista point in Horseshoe Bay, is a small construction site occupied by the Sons of Ragnarok. The Data is located in the top section of construction scaffolding wrapped around the bridge struts.
To reach it, get a motorcycle and use the ramp on the east end of the site to jump onto the first stack of cargo containers, then jump the bike once more to reach the top of the scaffold. Climb up to the top then drop down into the section with the data pack to retrieve it.
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Gates Houseboats - System Crash Upgrade: Blackout
Research unlocked: System Crash Upgrade: Blackout (City Disruption)
Requirements: None
This Key Data is located in a small room on top of the auto repair shot next to the Torque clothing store in Marin. While the room can be accessed fairly easily with a QuadCopter, the data point is locked inside a vent which requires a physical hack to open.
Use the forklift parked next to the building to lift one of the palates up high enough so that Marcus can climb onto the roof. Once inside the room, use the RC Jumper to move through the hole in the wall and unlock the grate so you can claim the data.
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Finally
It's done, now you can use it for upgrade your research abilities.
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Source: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=812720567
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